Voters in Blaine County, Sun Valley and Bellevue will head to the polls Tuesday, May 22, to weigh in on a proposal to fund a new care facility for seniors, a proposed water and sewer bond issue and two separate tax measures.
Here's a roundup of the four special elections in the Wood River Valley and details on where and when residents can vote.
Countywide election: Blaine Manor sale
Whether Blaine County should sell the Blaine Manor nursing home in Hailey and transfer the funds from the sale to a nonprofit foundation will be in the hands of county voters Tuesday.
The advisory vote, which requires a simple majority to pass, could confirm the county's decision to sell the 25-bed nursing home and transfer responsibility for running a new facility to the Croy Canyon Ranch Foundation. Sale of the Hailey facility is expected to generate about $6 million.
The county was not required by law to put the question to a vote, but county commissioners decided to do so, given its importance.
If voters approve the sale, the Croy Canyon Ranch Foundation would be responsible for building and operating a new $20 million continuing-care facility in Croy Canyon, west of Hailey. Under a 10-year contract for services with the county, the facility would be open for all residents of Blaine County.
The new facility would be built one mile west of Hailey on 20 acres of land owned by the foundation.
Construction of the facility and its operation by the foundation would relieve the county from having to subsidize Blaine Manor to the tune of $600,000 to $700,000 annually.
On May 22, polls will be open for the election from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The county polling locations are:
· Precinct No. 12: Carey City Hall, 20482 N. Main St., Carey.
· Precinct No. 11: Silver Creek C-Store, 18918 U.S. Highway 20, Picabo.
· Precinct No. 10: Bellevue Elementary School Library, 305 N. Fifth St., Bellevue.
· Precincts No. 6, 7, 8 and 14: Hailey Community Campus, Room 301-302, 1050 Fox Acres Road, Hailey.
· Precincts No. 1, 2, 3 and 4: Ketchum City Hall, 480 East Ave. N., Ketchum.
· Precincts No. 5 and 13: Sun Valley City Hall, 81 Elkhorn Road, Sun Valley.
· Precinct No. 9: Yale—mail only.
· Precinct No. 15: Absentee, Old Blaine County Courthouse, 206 First Ave. S., Hailey.
For additional election information, log on to the county's Web site at www.co.blaine.id.us/.
Sun Valley: LOT reduction and sewer bond
The city of Sun Valley and the Sun Valley Water and Sewer District will hold special elections Tuesday asking citizens for permission to lower a specific portion of the city's local option tax and to issue a sewer improvement bond.
Polls at Sun Valley City Hall will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The city's ballot will ask voters to approve a 1 percent reduction in the LOT collected on select hard good sales, from 3 percent to 2 percent—a rate closer to Ketchum's 1 percent retail tax. Select hard goods are defined as tangible goods; greens fees for example, will still be subject to the city's 3 percent tax.
The 1 percent drop in LOT on select hard-good retail sales would represent an estimated $89,000 loss for the city. To fill a small portion of the revenue gap, the city proposes to subject lift ticket sales in the city of Sun Valley to LOT collections. That is expected to bring in around $7,400.
In order for the City Council's proposed change to the LOT to go forward, 60 percent voter approval is required. If passed, the tax cut would go into effect Oct. 1 and remain in place for 10 years.
The district will propose to voters that it issue a $4.357 million bond for improvements to its water and sewer infrastructure. The bond seeks to improve three main components: reclaimed water use, wastewater management and water management.
The bond election is open to residents serviced by the district—that does not include Weyyakin subdivision.
The bond would be repaid through property taxes.
In order to pass, the bond will require a two-thirds voter approval.
The district encourages anyone with questions on the election to contact Joanne Vaser at 622-7610, ext. 104.
Bellevue: Property tax levy
Bellevue will hold a special election to decide if the city will increase its tax levy annually by $58.20 per $100,000 in assessed property valuation.
The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Bellevue City Hall.
This is the third time in four years that such an increase has come before the city's voters. The proposed tax raise failed to gain the necessary 60 percent support in 2004 and 2005.
This year, a citizens advisory committee was organized to determine the level of Bellevue's municipal services. It found deficiencies with the street, fire and police departments, as well as the library.
If the levy increase is passed, the city would be able to add another $200,000 to its $2.36 million budget and, if it follows the recommendation of the committee, hire full-time employees in each of those departments, and make other improvements.
Bellevue property owners now pay $78.12 per $100,000 in assessed valuation every year, one of the lowest tax levy rates in Idaho.
